Hetty's eyes devoured my face when I rushed into our bedroom.
"I am having a delightful time," I said, "everything is going on
splendidly."
"Oh, do, do tell me?" said Hetty, sitting up on her sofa, and letting
her work tumble to the ground.
"Yes, presently I will; but my visitors have not gone yet."
"Haven't they? They are staying a long time."
"Yes, and they will probably remain a little longer. I have come now to
fetch the ring."
"Oh, Rosamund, you have not given way? You are not going to part with
the ring?"
"Not a bit of it," I answered, as I unlocked my small bag, and taking
the ring from its hiding-place slipped it on my finger. "Goodbye for
the present, Hetty," I said; "think of all pleasant and improbable
things till I return to you."
I flew down-stairs to the two who were now my friends. Lady Ursula made
me seat myself next to her on the sofa, and Captain Valentine, taking
the ring from me, turned it round and round in the light. How that
central ruby did flash--how blinding and bewildering were the rays which
it shot from the depths of its heart. I had an uncomfortable feeling,
as if the costly gem was going to mesmerise me.
Suddenly I uttered an exclamation. By some deft movement, done so
quickly that I could not follow it, Captain Valentine had touched a
spring, and the ring had altered. The massive gold of the setting moved
aside like tiny doors; the central ruby shot up a fiercer ray of almost
triumph; it revolved slowly from its position, and left the inner
mechanism or skeleton of the ring bare to view.
"There," said Captain Valentine, "behold the most cunning device ever
invented for holding a few threads of hair, or any other invaluable
treasure. Yes, this ring is the companion one to yours,
Ursula. No doubt on the subject, no doubt whatever, for it was my
great-grandmother, or her double, who invented this unique little
hiding-place in the back of a ring."
"But this hiding-place, this secret treasure-house contains no hair, no
delightful discovery of any kind," said Lady Ursula.
"That is true; the space is empty," said Captain Valentine.
"Nevertheless, I identify the ring." He touched the secret spring
again. The central ruby seemed to flash a wicked intelligent look into
my eyes; the embossed gold doors revolved back into their places; the
magnificent middle ruby resumed its position as keeper of the doors, and
the little ring looked as it had done before.
Captain Valentine handed the ruby ring back to me.
"You must explain to me the secret of those magical doors," I said to
him. "Where did you touch the spring which set that clever, enchanting
little machinery in motion?"
He took the ring again in his hand, and began to explain the cunning
little secret to me.
"Do you see that nick in the side of the gold?" he said. "Just at the
left of the serpent's eye. Press it: not too hard. A light touch is
sufficient--a heavy one might break the delicate machinery."
"I see," I answered, "thank you. No, I won't disturb my rubies again
now. It might break the charm if I got my ring to tell its secrets too
often."
"Rosamund," said Lady Ursula, suddenly, "it strikes me that you and
Rupert must be some kind of relations; that is, if that ring were left
to you by a relation."
"My mother's cousin left me the ring," I said.
"Your mother's cousin?" said Captain Valentine. "Do you mind giving me
some particulars? It is interesting to trace relationships; in this
case especially so."